2015 Day 9 - Carowinds - we came, we rode, we conquered!

Ok, so today was all about the coasters.  Carowinds has 13 coasters.

We were a bit later getting up today, but after a light complimentary hotel breakfast, we were suncreamed and driving into the parking lot at 10am.

One of the parks coasters, a wooden racing coaster was having it's last day of operaion today.  So thinking it might get busy there later in the day we decided to make it our first stop.  Although they were testing the second side, there was only one side actually running.    No fast pass option here, it took about 30 mins til it was our turn.  The young man operating it was doing a fab job at encouraging the crowd to join in and make it a bit of a celebration.  Just as we were waiting to board, he asked if anyone was from out of town, he'd asked earlier and thought Florida was a long way to come to ride coasters,  anyway I put my hand up and said we were from England!  He was really surprised and got the whole station full of people to cheer and clap the English family,  I thought it was funny, Stephen though was not too keen :)

Seems a shame they are closing this, it was a good ride and reasonably smooth for a woodie - especially compared to some we have ridden this week.

The inverted (hanging) coaster Afterburn was next.  The park wasn't as busy as last night but we used the fast passes as it helped to keep us from queuing in the sun.  The forecast was for 93f today, no breeze and no cloud!

Sarah and Keith decided to be brave and ride Windseeker, a 301 ft high tower swinger.  They said it was good and the view was fab.

yep! they were on there!! 300ft up!!

Boo Blasters, interactive family dark ride was ok but some of the laser guns didn't appear very responsive.  Back on the coasters, Carolina Cobra was an older style boomeramg ride which pulls you backwards out of the station up a hill then lets go and you drop forward at speed though the station into a cobra roll, a loop an up a ramp next to the start hill.  A lift grabs the car and pulls you up to the top then drops you, backwards, through all the elements.

Carolina Cyclone was another older style coaster that the others went on, with a double loop and a double corkscrew.  Bit of a bone shaker.

The Hurler is very similar to the one at Kings Dominion, but Stephen and I especially, quite like wooden coasters as long as they don't shake you around too much, this one was ok.

Time to brave our biggest coaster of the week.  Stephen and I were nervous, 325 ft, 90 mph, and only lap bars!!   The fast passes meant we didn't have to wait in the station, we were up the steps and straight on the next car. Up the lift hill quite quickly, I kept thinking surely we must have got there? Down the first drop and we started to smile. Oh wow, super smooth, super fast, lots of air time after the turn around, loved it, new favourite ride time!  We were so excited when we got off we went straight back for another go.

The other big coaster here is Intimidator.   We rode Intimidator 325 a couple of days ago at Kings Dominion.  Carowinds version is 'only' 232 ft, but without the killer g-forces that affected 3, this one is great and very re-rideable.

Night Hawk is the parks flying coaster,  I can't really ride flying coasters so left the others to it.  They weren't impressed with it, too rough.  They also rode Vortex, a stand up coaster.

 Keith and I had a ride up the viewing tower to get some aerial shots of the park.

Charlotte city skyline

We were getting hot and tired now so had one more go on Fury before hitting the shops for souvenirs. We got our hands stamped at the exit as the plan was to come back later to ride in the dark, park open til 10pm.

 

 

The hotel was just across the road, still driving distance,  but after a couple of hours rest we headed back just before 7.  We rode Fury, Intimidator, Afterburn, and Hurler before it got dark, then made sure we did Fury and Intimidator when the sun went down.  These two really are fantastic rides. Think the boys managed 7 rides on each today.  Sarah and I weren't far behind on 6 and 5.

We left the park about 9.45 and stopped at Culvers, a fast food place next to the hotel.  All food was freshly cooked amd bought out to our table.  Really nice.

Feeling full and shattered and headed for bed.

Click here for trip index